You can also write to us with your comments at: The Health
Promotion Board, Substance Abuse Department, 3 Second Hospital
Avenue, Singapore 168937
All responses will be carefully considered by the Health Promotion
Board, Health Sciences Authority and the National Environment
Agency.
Aim
1. The Health Promotion Board
(HPB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the National Environment
Agency (NEA) are considering changes to tobacco control policies to
further reduce smoking rates in Singapore and would like to seek
public views on these changes.
Background
2. Tobacco use is the single
most preventable cause of death in the world today1. Tobacco can
potentially cause up to half of its users to die, on average 15
years prematurely. The World Health Organization estimates that 5.4
million people die from tobacco-related diseases every year. This
could rise to more than eight million every year by 2030.
3. In Singapore, smoking is
linked to six out of eight main causes of death including cancer2.
The National Tobacco Control Programme aims to reduce the smoking
prevalence in Singapore by:
i. Building a supportive environment that
encourages tobacco-free lifestyles;
ii. Preventing young people from picking up
smoking;
iii. Promoting ways to help smokers break the habit;
and
iv. Protecting non-smokers from the harmful effects of
second-hand smoke.
4. While the prevalence of
smoking spell between 1980 and 2004, the latest National Health
Survey 2010 showed that there was a slight increase in the number
of smokers aged between 18 and 69 years. The most significant
increase is among adult males aged 18-29 years old (from 18.2% to
25.3%) and 30-39 years old (from 22.7% to 29.3%). This trend
underscores the need to review and revisit existing tobacco control
strategies.
5. In 2010, Singapore amended
the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to strengthen
measures against tobacco marketing and sales. Subsequently, tax
rates for non-cigarette tobacco predicts were also increased. The
Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act was amended to increase
the protection of the public from exposure to second hand
smoke.
6. Examples of enhancements
made to strengthen tobacco control measures included:
Stricter tobacco packaging requirements
All cigarette packets now carry a mandatory
health warning message alongside the requirement for 50% of the
front and back of pack to display the graphic (picture) health
warning.
Restricting availability of tobacco
Currently, tobacco cannot be sold at outlets
that 1) sell health products or youth-specific products or
services; and 2) are located in any health establishments licensed
by MOH/HSA (e.g. hospitals, medical clinics and licensed
pharmacies).
Increasing taxation on non-cigarette tobacco
products
The total amount of tax on a packet of
cigarettes sold in Singapore is around 69%. A 25% increase in taxes
for beedies, ang hoon and smokeless tobacco, and 1.5% increase for
unmanufactured tobacco, cut tobacco and tobacco refuse, was
announced during the Budget 2013. This was part of the
harmonisation process to bring the tax rates of these non-cigarette
products closer to that of cigarettes.
7. These amendments are
consistent with international developments. For example, some
countries have increased the size of their picture (graphic) health
warnings to further discourage smoking. Uruguay, Sri Lanka and
Thailand now have among the biggest health warnings covering at
least 80% of the packet (front and back). With regards to taxation,
New Zealand has announced plans to increase taxes on cigarettes by
10% every year from 2013 for 4 years in order to reduce the demand
and consumption of cigarettes.
8. This public consultation
seeks your views on some emerging international best practices. One
key measure on which we are keen to hear your views is to disallow
tobacco products to be displayed openly in retail outlets. Another
is the extension of the smoking ban in public places. Additional
comments on other tobacco control measures or ideas that you may
have are also welcome.